and that one was just right

i'm in detox.

in the past two evenings, i've seen two friends who mean a bunch to me. not just "good to drop beers with" friends, but "sure, i really only needed one kidney anyway" friends.

one of them just busted up with his fiancée. the other is dealing with a wife with intense medical issues and a newborn.

ha ha ha.

i live in australia. that's far away from here. it feels really really far away when i try to think about what i can do to help my friends out.

for the first, dropping a couple of beers and listening and talking actually seemed pretty spot on. it's been a while since i had something resembling my old advice mojo working, but i think i was on my game with him. he's going to be fine after the requisite sorrow and self-doubt. for the second friend, the best i could come up with was dinner on me.

dinner? how is that going to help? i want to organize babysitting shifts, or fly in medical experts, or something effective but all i could think up was free dinner and a "call me any time."

i feel pretty useless when i should be anything but.

on the positive side, i'm thinking about the three bears. how some porridge is too hot, and some too cold, but some is just right. in this analogy i'm goldilocks and my wife is porridge, which may not sound like a big compliment but oh-boy is it.

i'm sorry she's not in town today. i could use some just right.